Demon: I win. No one reviewed. They all agreed with ME. Your story sucks.

Shana: (crying) I am not loved.

Demon: (eyebrow raised) And you're surprised??

Shana: …But, there's someone here who'll make better. An actual friend in this pit of author notes. Someone that is here beside you, Saint, and me.

Demon: Who?

Ramza: ……What am I doing here…??

Shana: (hugs him) Ramza!!

Ramza: (shocked) O-Oi, Shana!?

Shana: Yeah.

Ramza: I thought we were… (is confused because she summoned him from her game)

Shana: Mhm, heading to that stupid church, I know. But I didn't want to do that yet!

Ramza: ???

Shana: (huggles him) Now I have incentive to write. Yo, all you…couple people reading this. Ramza = mine. At least the Ramza in MY save is. Which he is. Anyways, you take him away, I no write any more. (gives FFIX characters to random people) Take 'em. I don't care any more. You just leave me and my Ramza alone!!

Demon: (coughs)psycho(coughs)

Saint: To the fic!!

I slid down a pole, heading to a certain lower deck room. It was completely dark.

"Hm, dark…I thought I was late, but I guess I'm the first one here." I lit a candle in the middle of the room.

"Who's there!?" someone shouted.

"Princess Garnet…" I retorted sarcastically, "What do ya think!? It's me, Blank!"

I watched as Cinna, Mikane, and Marcus came into view.

"Blank! You sure are late!" Mikane laughed.

After we had met her, she had instantly become one of the group. In fact, she had become my best friend.

"Sorry," I grinned sheepishly. "So, where's the Boss??"

Someone leaps out of hiding with a dragon mask on. He challenges us to a fight.

After kicking his ass, he whimpered, "UGHUUA! Oh, my head! Go easy, you guys!"

We sighed in relief. Although Baku did this at least once a week, he was no wimp. Tired, we all began to laugh.

"Hey, fools!" Baku interrupted our laughter. "You're lookin' a lot better! Gwahahaha! Alright! Let's start this meeting already!"

I followed Baku and the others into the meeting room. We all took up our favorite positions.

"Here's the plan! Tantalus, the infamous band of daring thieves (that's us), is headin' to the kingdom of Alexandria... Our mission: to kidnap the heir to the throne, Princess Garnet!" Bake started.

"I'll take it from here, so listen up!" Cinna intervened, "Our ship's about to dock at Alexandria... And when it does, we're gonna put on our costumes......and perform 'I Want to Be Your Canary,' the most popular play in Alexandria! Break a leg, Marcus! 'Cause you're playin' the lead!"

"Leave the actin' to me!" Marcus nodded, "Of course, the real kidnappers'll be Blank and Mikane!"

"I'll distract the audience from the backstage with these little buggers. I can't stand oglops..." Mikane shuddered. "But I'll manage, so don't worry about me. And that'll be your cue, Blank!

"Yep! That's when I kidnap Princess Garnet, right?" I grinned.

"You bet! You're gonna kidnap the most babe-ilicious beauty in all of Alexandria, Princess Garnet!" Baku also grinned.

The plan ready to proceed, we each left the room. I departed with Mikane.

"You nervous?" I asked.

"Naw…well, maybe a little," she admitted.

"Better get your costume on."

"Yeah, see ya on stage."

Mikane headed off for the dressing rooms, pale blond tail waving behind her. She was the only one who had to wear a costume. A dark purple vest with a white shirt underneath, brown gloves, dark purple pants, and boots. A simple enough outfit. Ruby had made it for Mikane for the play and Mikane had told me that she was going to continue wearing it.

The theater ship shook as it docked. It was show time. Dashing to my spot offstage, I joined Cinna and Mikane dressed/playing as "Kane." Baku was saying the introduction to the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle, only to be captured by her father, King Leo. When our story begins, Marcus, having heard of this, crosses swords with the king. And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Brahne, Your Highness, Princess Garnet... ...noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I want to Be Your Canary'!"

Baku, playing as King Leo, was finished, and it was now our turn.

"Bereft of father! Bereft of mother! Marcus! Thou hast lost even thy love!" I proclaimed.

"Fortune hath escap'd thee! For what end shalt thou live?" stated Cinna.

"For the sake of our friend…Let us bury our steel in the heart of the wretched King Leo!" declared Kane.

"Aye!" Cinna and I agreed.

We ran onto stage.

"We shall back thee, kinsman!" I announced.

Marcus shook his head. "Pray, sheathe thy swords! This villain is mine alone!"

"Nay, kinsman! For I, too, have lost a brother to this fiend!" countered Cinna.

King Leo noticed our argument.

"What ho? Out, vermin! Away! Thou darest bare thy sword before the king!? All who stand in my way will be crush'd!"

Kane was shaking in anger.

"Treacherous Leo, my kinsman's suffering shall not be in vain! For I shall instruct thee in his incomparable pain!" he shouted.

We battled King Leo and two of his goons. It was a play fight, using impressive, but fake magic and purposely weak sword thrusts. In the end, we won, as scripted. King Leo stumbled away.

"Arrg…Grr…Thou hast not seen the last of me, Marcus!" he bellowed, staggering up the stairs.

"Come back!" called Kane, starting to follow.

I leapt onto the stairs, blocking his path.

"Out of the way, Blank!" Kane snapped.

"Consider this, Kane! If Prince Schneider were to marry Princess Cornelia, peace would reign over both their kingdoms!" I urgently told him.

"'Tis foolishness! If all were so easy, why, none would suffer in this world!" Kane disagreed.

I continued up the stairs, and Kane rushed up after me. Under my breath, out of role for a moment, I reminded Mikane to take my lead. Out of sight of the public, she winked. Then we resumed our roles.

"En garde!" I smirked, whipping out my sword.

"Expect no quarter for me!" Kane growled, unsheathing his as well.

Like before, the mock swordfight went flawlessly. As we finished the last stroke, the nobles were cheering and showering us with gil. Even Queen Brahne was impressed.

"We shall finish this later!" I decided.

"Come back here!" Kane snarled, chasing me offstage.

For now, our part in the play was over. Onto the plan…Mikane and I grinned mischievously at each other. We found our way easily into the main castle.

"We need a disguise," Mikane whispered.

"Yeah…" I murmured, agreeing.

I spotted two knights.

"Hey…" I shot Mikane a look.

She nodded, "Let's do it."

Shana: I could end here…I should end here…I WILL end here!!

Ramza: Pwease??? (adorable puppy dog eyes of death)

Shana: Aww……(hugs him) no.

Ramza: (sighs) I tried.

Shana: Not until at least another person reviews! I will go on strike until then!

Demon: ??? Whatever. (goes to join Saint in wherever he went)

Ramza: Review? Pwease? (puppy dog eyes)